Binoculars opinions on brands

S

Sharps-Nut

New member
I am looking to buy a new pair of binoculars. I have never had a decent pair and have been looking at several brands and would like a little input. From what I have read the biggest leap in quality is getting away from the 20. to 50.00 pairs and getting into the 150.00 to 200.00 pair. I guess after that the sky is the limit or more likely the thickness of your wallet is the limit. I have been looking at maybe bushnell trophey or legends in a roof prism model, maybe like 8x40. Small eneogh they are easily carried but big eneogh to be useful in the field for a spot and stock situation. Are the legends worth the extra 100.00 bucks. Other possible brands that might offer more for the money? My limit is 300. and thats only if its going to be a huge gain over a 150.00 pair. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Sharps-Nut
 
I'd go with the Nikon Monarchs. I looked through a pair the other day and couldn't believe the clarity. I know someone might think I'm crazy but I couldn't tell a huge difference between the Swarovskis and the Nikons that I looked through. The Nikons are definitely on my birthday list. I saw some on ebay for around $250.
 
I've looked through the bushnell trophys indoors and they look pretty nice for the money. I bought a pair just below that I think the legend, 8 x 42's pretty clear but the eye lenses condensed & slightly fogged with my breath so I returned them a day later

IMHO the Nikon Monarch ATB's are the absolute best bang for the buck. I have the 10x42's and they aren't bad to hold steady, but above that magnification they will be. Yesterday it was 5 degrees with a wind chill of -15 until about noon. I used them all morning without one fog or any condensation. They are very clear and bright optics. I bought them for 249 plus 7.95 shipping if I remember the shipping charges correctly. It was online etronics I believe. They had the lowest price with shipping. Bass Pro is $50 higher as are most other retailers. I have the black pair, non camo. The camo runs a little more. The 8x42's might be a few dollars less.

You might want to check with one of the advertisers here OpticZone He's got some great prices on scopes and I'm sure he's going to be close to the price I mentioned above.
 
Sharpsnut,

Dollar for dollar, you get a lot more "bang for the buck" by going with a porro prism over a roof prism. In reality, there's not a roof prism in the $150.00 range that I'd recommend, but there are several good porros. The best deal going right now is the B&L Discoverer porro's on clearance at Cabelas. They're waterproof, fogproof, and will provide a lifetime of service....

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...ch-results1.jsp
 
My dad has the nikons and are very nice. I have the leupold windrivers and are very nice. Im not sure what his cost but I paid like 270 for mine.
 
I have read alot about porro vs roof the articles I read agree with your conclusion of the porro representing a better value. The later roof prisms are supposed to be closer to porro prism quality according to some sources, but I should look at both. The bushnell trophey's at the local sporting goods store was the best bang for buck to me that was until I looked thru the nikon monarks. They did not have any bushell legend roof prisms on hand so I did not get to test them. I was using a bar code on a price tag 35 feet away as a grey scale, the bushnell trophies could not seperate individual lines the nikon's could. More research needed, I will take everyones advice back to the store and do more research. Any in store test other than my crude clarity test you could recommend? Sharps-Nut
 
Quote:
Other possible brands that might offer more for the money?



Alpen. I bought my 8x42 pair from Cabela's for $100.00 about a year or so ago. I held the Alpens in one hand, a pair of Leupold Wind River($249.00) in the other and honestly could not tell a difference. Now this was in a well lit store mind you, but I've used them since at dusk/dawn and their light gathering capabilities are pretty impressive.
I had a pair of $30.00 Simmons. The difference you're going to see is really like night and day, with which ever you choose. Good luck.
 
I also would recommend the Nikon Monarch ATB's. I think they are one of the best buys out there for binoculars. The quality is very good and the clarity and brightness compares to some other binoculars $100.00 more.
 
I have the Bushnell Legends and have been happy with them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also look at Eagle Optics on the net for some lens covers.
 
My wife bought me a set of the Nikon Binoc's and that's the best glass I had looked through....... I was so impressed that I started to eye the Nikon's for a Scope for my 25-06... she recently bought me a new 4.5x14x40 Side Focus Nikon.... Bless her, bless her.

ps...you can't have her...she's all mine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
everybody's eyes are different. Why don't you go to a big store like cabelas or gander mountain and look through several makes. You'll be suprised at how different they can be through your eyes. If you can - study a brick wall and look to see how clear the mud joints are, especially after looking at it for 15 minutes. See if you feel your eyes pulling or not. It's no fun having a pair of glasses that give you a headache.
 
Like some have said everyones eyes are different. I compared the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42's to Leupolds Wind Rivers and went with the Nikons. I bought mine for a mule deer hunt in Wyoming this year and after using them there the only thing I would do different is buy the 10x 42's. I'm very pleased. I bought mine from The Opitic Zone.
 
check out the tasco off shore, stay away from the red lens. I forget what they call the lens however you can see them from a long distance. Cabelas has both styles you just have to ask for them, they do not list these in the catalog. Also what ever you get stay with the auto focus. You will thank yourself in the future. Adjust the binoc for your eyes and leave it their. Honestly you can not get a good pair of roof prisms until you clear the 250 mark the last time I checked.
 
I have had lots of different brands of binoculars over the years and was never completely happy with any of them. At least for very long. I just got a pair of Stiner 8 x 30 in the predator series. I really like them. They list in most catalogs for around $250. and I got these on ebay for #153. I like them real well so far.
 
I'd have to agree with the above post, the Pentax DCF II bino is a great bino. Spending around $300. They have great glass and the most important thing I like is that they are a one piece design and EXTREMELY rugged!! That's why I bought them....however, I have looked through the mentioned Nikons and they are nice too.....but not as rugged. Comes down to what you are really looking for!
 
I recently purchased a pair of Alpen apex 10x42 binoculars and the quality of the optics is terrific.I compared my Alpens with binoculars from Steiner,Nikon,and Leica and the Alpens were as clear and bright as all of the above and they only cost 200.00.Some of the binoculars i compared with the Alpens cost 5x as much and at least to my eye they were not much better if at all and the Alpen apex is water proof not just water resistant.
 
Here is what you do. Go buy an issue of Popular Photography. In the back of the mag, there are a lot of adds. They sale the Pentax binoculars, and other brands much cheaper than you will find them any where.
 
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